UNALAKLEET, Alaska, Feb. 23, 2010 - Today, Unalakleet Valley Electric Cooperative (UVEC)celebrated the completion of its six-turbine wind power installation through the launch of a web portalthat provides opportunities for the public to monitor the project's energy production. UVEC's 600 kWwind installation was completed in November 2009 and is one of the first implemented through thefinancial support of the State of Alaska's Renewable Energy Fund, a $250 million grant programdesigned to support renewable energy projects that help reduce the cost of energy for Alaskans. Theinstallation was also made possible through financial assistance from Norton Sound EconomicDevelopment Corporation (NSEDC), the Commercial Development Quota organization serving Alaska'sBering Strait Region, and the Unalakleet Native Corporation (UNC).

UVEC's wind farm, developed and constructed by Anchorage-based STG Incorporated, was built over afour month period last summer. The project is expected to deliver 1,500,000 kWh of wind-generatedelectricity to UVEC annually, approximately 35% of the electricity needs for the community. The sixturbinearray is connected into UVEC's existing distribution system and the utility's diesel-poweredgeneration facilities. By producing energy with no fuel costs, the wind installation will providesubstantial annual savings in avoided diesel fuel expenditures and will consequently stabilize and reducethe cost of energy across the community.

The project has been on-line since November and to date has produced enough electricity to saveapproximately 21,000 gallons of diesel fuel for the Unalakleet member-owned cooperative. "Like mostall rural Alaska utilities, we have seen a dramatic increase in the delivered price of our primary fuelsource, diesel, over the past five years," said UVEC General Manager Ike Towarak. "The windinstallation will help us be better prepared to manage on-going operational costs at the utility. This resultsin direct benefits for our members by making it possible to pass along cost savings to UVEC's ratepayers."

Through the financial assistance of the State of Alaska, NSEDC, and UNC, the wind project wascompleted on an accelerated schedule in order for the community to begin receiving fuel-saving benefitsthis winter. The Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) maintains oversight of Alaska's Renewable EnergyFund Program which provided a $4 million dollar grant for the wind installation. "We are very pleased tosee this happen in Unalakleet," noted AEA Executive Director Steve Haagenson. "This wind energyproject is a great example of a good public/private partnership and a solid illustration of positive resultsfrom Alaska's Renewable Energy Fund."

The wind project is fully operational, but will be running at a reduced capacity until UVEC's new powerplant is completed later this year. The wind turbines utilized for the project, the Northwind 100, aremanufactured by Vermont-based Northern Power Systems and engineered for operation in Arcticconditions. "Overall, the project has performed well and the turbines helped us begin to reduce fuelconsumption at the utility almost immediately," said Towarak. "We were fortunate to have a verycapable team of companies and individuals supporting the rapid deployment of our project and we expectto see even stronger system performance as we implement new controls later this year."

While the web portal is one of the first in Alaska to provide publically accessible real-time energyproduction data for a wind-diesel installation, it was launched primarily to support educationalopportunities by illustrating how the wind-generated electricity from UVEC's wind system is beingutilized in their community. "It has been a privilege for us to work with UVEC and the village ofUnalakleet to bring this project to fruition," said STG President James St. George. "Wind power isaddressing energy-related challenges in villages across Alaska. It is exciting that this portal will provideopportunities to publically celebrate not just the success of this individual project, but the technology'sabilities to deliver tangible benefits that can be realized in many of our communities."

The portal will also support the implementation of hands-on and interactive curriculum designed to teachUnalakleet students about wind energy systems. The curriculum is under development, but is beingmodeled after the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Wind for Schools program.UVEC and project partners plan to showcase the recently launched web-based portal at a publicdedication ceremony scheduled to be held at the Unalakleet school later this season. A permanent displayof the portal has been installed in the school library and is accessible through the following link:http://northernpower.kiosk-view.com/unalakleet.

About Unalakleet Valley Electric CooperativeUnalakleet Valley Electric Cooperative (UVEC) is a non-profit member cooperative servicing the villageof Unalakleet on Alaska's Bering Sea coast. The utility is managed by a seven-member Board ofDirectors and its General Manager, providing electricity services for approximately 750 residents andlocal businesses across the community.

About STG IncorporatedFor over fifteen years, STG has provided construction services and management for a wide variety ofcommercial clients across rural Alaska. The company specializes in the construction of bulk fuel systems,pile foundations, power generation and distribution facilities, communication towers and renewableenergy systems. A market leader in the installation of commercial wind energy systems, STG hasinstalled approximately 75% of the utility-scale wind turbines operating in Alaska. For additionalinformation, please visit www.stgincorporated.com.